OCD Action

sweeteater
Member

Has anyone else tried to ignore distressing intrusive thoughts, then spent days worrying and doubting if I've done the thing I'm worried about! It's the doubt that's so distressing....

Sun Oct 31 2010 17:48:25 #
Unregistered

Hi

Yes I think this is something that is common to many if not all of us OCDers.
I have always found the doubt as bad as the fear. But it does slowly go the more you learn to let the thoughts go. For me, the best method is to keep saying 'So What!' I am not underestimating the difficulties of doing this - it takes a lot of courage and faith in oneself to take this risk and believe in your strong, sensible, real voice. But it is hugely empowering when it works as it greatly increases one's ability to believe in one's own judgement instead of relying on others' opinions (ie asking for reassurance).

It has taken me a year to get to the stage where my OCD voice is there but a great deal quieter and where the doubt only lasts about an hour at most instead of a week.

I do hope you will persevere, it will be worth it in the end to have the respite from this awful condition.

Best of luck
Anne

Sun Oct 31 2010 18:03:13 #
N.O.C.D.
Member

Hi sweeteater. I have had this problem too, and know exactly how you feel. I am in complete agreeement with what Anne has said - you just need to be able to live with the doubt, and eventually you will feel less and less plagued by the unhelpful thoughts and doubts.

Sun Oct 31 2010 19:27:36 #
sweeteater
Member

thanks for replies- it's really helped. I suppose ignoring the doubts is like ignoring the thoughts, it's like peeling back the layers of an onion- you ignore one thing, then move onto ignoring the next thing and so on. But it feels ghastly while you're doing it!

Mon Nov 1 2010 8:54:32 #